Engineers at MIT have developed a robotic replica of the heart’s right ventricle that mimics a live heart’s beating and blood-pumping action.
This innovative “robo-ventricle” combines real heart tissue with synthetic, balloon-like artificial muscles, allowing scientists to control the ventricle’s contractions while closely observing the function of its natural valves and other intricate structures.
The artificial ventricle can be adjusted to replicate healthy and diseased states, making it a valuable tool for studying various heart conditions.
Researchers manipulated the model to simulate conditions such as right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and myocardial infarction.
They also used the model to test cardiac devices, including implanting a mechanical valve to repair a malfunctioning natural valve.
This robotic right ventricle, or RRV, is a realistic platform for studying right ventricle disorders and testing devices and therapies designed to treat these disorders effectively.
It gives researchers insights into the complex mechanics and dynamics of the right ventricle, which can be challenging to observe and assess in patients with heart disease using conventional methods.
The RRV simulator offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of mechanical ventilation on the right ventricle, which is particularly vulnerable in intensive care unit settings.
Researchers aim to develop strategies to prevent right heart failure in critically ill patients by understanding how mechanical ventilation impacts the right ventricle.
The team’s approach involves preserving and replicating real heart tissue, as it contains intricate structures that are challenging to reproduce synthetically.
The combination of preserved heart tissue and synthetic materials allows the RRV to accurately mimic the right ventricle’s pumping function and anatomical complexity.
The researchers believe that this technology has the potential to revolutionize the field of cardiac research and may even lead to the development of fully functional artificial hearts in the distant future.
While much work is needed, the RRV represents a significant step toward a deeper understanding of heart health and the potential for innovative treatments and interventions.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to higher risk of heart failure, and results showing this drug could reduce heart disease, fatty liver, and obesity.
The research findings can be found in Nature Cardiovascular Research.
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